Benjamin "Ben" Almerine Humphries, Sr., known as a Cliffside, NC icon, passed away on January 18th, 2022.

Ben is predeceased by his wife, Marilyn "June" White Humphries; Children, Benjy Humphries and Lala Seagle; Siblings, Max Humphries, Patricia Abernethy, and Charles Humphries. Ben is survived by his daughter-in-law, Denise Humphries; son-in-law, Jerry Seagle; Granddaughters, Eva and Avery Humphries, Lara Whiteside, and Carrie Hayes; Great Grandchildren, Colby, Blake, and Calla Whiteside, Ryan, Scott, Josie, Caleb, and Micah Hayes.

Ben was born on December 13, 1929, to Lassie Royster Humphries (1909 - 1985) and Fannie Pauline Addington Humphries (1911 -2008). The Humphries family moved to Cliffside, NC in 1937. In High School, Ben played on the baseball team and was a great basketball player. He met June in high school and they married in 1948. In 1949, Ben and June had a daughter who they named Lala June. For 10 years, Ben worked various jobs in the Cliffside mill. In 1958, he left his work at the mill to become a deputy for the Sheriff's Department in Rutherford County. He worked on many investigations up through the 1970s. In 1969, Ben and June gave birth to their second child, Benjamin Almerine Humphries, Jr. After working in the Sheriff's office for many years, Ben stepped down from that job and became a bail bondsman.

Ben favored old country music. He loved it so much he wanted to host an annual event to bring people together through country music. People came from all over the country and world to attend the festival. He called this event the Snuffy Jenkins Old-time and Bluegrass Music Festival. Ben loved sports and served as a coach for the American Legion Baseball in Rutherford County for several years. Ben was a lover of history and his favorite president was Abraham Lincoln. Ben was a great man who lived a long life. He loved people and people loved him. He will be missed greatly by family, friends, and the community of Cliffside.

A receiving of friends will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 21st at Cliffside Baptist Church. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 21st at Cliffside Baptist Church with Reverend Mike Elgin officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cliffside Baptist Church at P.O. Box 336 Cliffside, NC 28024. Online condolences may be made towww.eggersfuneralhome.com. Eggers Funeral Home of Cliffside, NC is serving the family.